Personal Development Overview

Equity • Ambition • Opportunity

At Queen Eleanor Academy, part of Creative Education Trust, our mission is to nurture curious, resilient, and compassionate learners. Rooted in equity, ambition, and opportunity, our curriculum is designed to help every child find their voice and thrive both in and beyond school life.

What Personal Development Means at Queen Eleanor

Personal development is embedded in every part of school life. We develop learners who are confident, creative, reflective, and socially responsible through:

Character and emotional growth – building empathy, self-awareness, and self-regulation
Oracy and communication – empowering pupils to articulate ideas clearly and listen actively
Leadership and agency – giving students the tools to shape their own school experience
Cultural capital and enrichment – broadening students’ horizons through events, trips, and experiences
Careers ambition – helping students connect learning to real-world opportunities and future goals

Our robust PSHE curriculum is carefully sequenced and regularly updated to reflect the changing world our pupils are growing up in. We use student voice, national safeguarding intelligence, local context, and trust-wide data to ensure we are preparing children for life, not just reacting to it. We follow and expand upon all statutory PSHE and RSE requirements, and we actively anticipate emerging needs, themes, and risks.

Assemblies and Community

Our pupils take part in a wide-ranging and purposeful assembly programme, including:

Themed assemblies focused on values, current affairs, and global issues
Music assemblies that celebrate culture, performance, and creativity
Celebration assemblies recognising achievement, effort, and community contribution

These experiences reinforce our values, build community, and offer space for reflection and pride.

Drop Down Days & Culture Week

Each term, our school hosts Drop Down Days, providing immersive experiences that connect curriculum themes with real-world learning and strengthen our links with the wider community.

A standout example is our recent Culture Week, which brought together students, families, and staff in a joyful celebration of heritage, identity, and belonging. Pupils participated in storytelling, dance, and art, carried national flags in assembly, and shared meals and music from different cultures.

The project culminated in a shared cultural cookbook created with families and a partner school in India—showcasing how we unite cultures while celebrating individuality. The event received praise from the wider community and was featured in the press (Northampton Chronicle article).

Enrichment and Outdoor Learning

We believe that every child should be able to discover their strengths and find joy in new experiences.

Our enrichment programme ensures that all pupils have access to high-quality opportunities that identify and develop their interests and talents:

A wide range of lunchtime and after-school clubs supported by staff and external partners
After-school sport provision delivered through our partnership with Premier Sports
Our innovative ‘Golden Time’ programme, every Friday afternoon, for creative, leadership and sporting exploration
A programme of curriculum-linked trips, performances, and visits that expand pupils’ worldviews and deepen learning

We also deliver outdoor learning through our Forest School curriculum, which helps pupils build resilience, collaboration, independence, and wellbeing in natural settings.

All activities are monitored to ensure SEND and pupil premium students are fully included, with barriers removed through targeted support.

Developing Future Leaders

We believe pupils aren’t just learners—they are leaders.

Our school empowers students to take on meaningful responsibilities and influence their school environment through roles such as:

Student Council – pupil representatives shaping school improvement
Diversity Ambassadors – promoting inclusion, respect, and belonging
Junior Sports Leaders – leading games and sporting activities
Peer Mentors – supporting the wellbeing of others through guidance and care
House Captains – strengthening teamwork, leadership and school identity

These roles support our belief that students are central to shaping Queen Eleanor as a place of excellence, inclusion, and belonging.

Why It Matters

Through our Personal Development Framework, every pupil leaves Queen Eleanor with:

A strong sense of identity and purpose
The ability to think critically, act with empathy, and lead with integrity
The skills, confidence, and values needed to navigate the modern world
The belief that they can contribute meaningfully to their communities

This is what personal development means at Queen Eleanor Academy — ensuring that every child not only thrives at school, but beyond it.